A bill Thursday passed the Tennessee Senate that would allow patients to obtain a commonly-used drug over the counter.
SB 2188 authorizes ivermectin suitable for human use to be sold or purchased as an over-the-counter medication in this state without a prescription or consultation with a pharmacist or certain other healthcare professional.
Ivermectin, a widely used anti-parasitic, has been the subject of hot debate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the failure of the federal government to authorize the use of any therapeutics to treat patients with COVID-19, instead of choosing to push vaccines as the only solution to the deadly virus, some Americans turned to Ivermectin.
But many were denied prescriptions even by pharmacies when they sought to treat themselves with the drug.
The bill, introduced by State Senator Frank Niceley (R-District 8), would allow anyone to obtain the drug without approval from a doctor or pharmacist.